Silvermine Dam Search Ends with Sad Discovery of Missing Man’s Body

After a week-long search, the body of a missing man was sadly discovered early this morning, Saturday 27 March 2021. The 69-year-old’s body was found floating in the dam, which lies within the Central Section of Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) in Cape Town, South Africa.

SANParks TMNP Park Manager, Frans van Rooyen, said: “The discovery follows a week-long search of a reported missing 69-year-old man whose vehicle was discovered in the Silvermine parking area on Sunday, 21 March 2021.”

Van Rooyen said “the family has positively identified and confirmed that it is indeed the body of Mr. Mike Reilly who has been missing for a week.”

The man, a regular hiker to the area, was reported missing last Sunday after he failed to return home by lunch-time. His clothes were found next to the dam.

SANParks expressed its sincere condolences to the family, as well as its gratitude to all those who took part in the search: the TMNP Rangers including SAPS Diving Unit, Metro Rescue Unit, City of Cape Town Fire Department Diving Unit, and Working on Fire team.

SANParks thanked them “for their dedication and hard work during this time as they started the search operation on Monday, 22 March 2021 after the missing person was reported on Sunday evening.”

Visitors to the park have also been thanked for their patience while the dam was closed. An announcement will be made shortly as to when the dam will reopen to the public, said SANParks in a statement today.